WJHS Highlights

Dear WJHS Families,

Second semester is under way and we hope that your child is enjoying their classes and taking a new elective. In addition to report cards, the district made NWEA MAP score reports available online via PowerSchool this week. Families received a BrightArrow message on Wednesday informing them that report cards and score reports are available on PowerSchool.

Below I am linking all the information that went out on Wednesday:

• Parent’s Guide to MAP Growth (linked here)

• MAP Student Progress Report (example linked here)

• MAP Student Progress Report Quick Reference (linked here)

• NWEA Family Toolkit

If you'd like more information on understanding the Student Progress Report, you can find that information here. If you have any questions about your child's report card, we encourage you to reach out to your child's teacher.

Over the past few weeks we have seen a significant increase in illness around the school, ranging from colds and influenza, to Covid and strep. Please keep your children home until they are vomit-free, diarrhea free, and fever free (without the use of fever reducing medications) for 24 hours. This will help keep WJHS as healthy as possible, for both students and adults in school. Thank you so much for your help!

Take care!

Kate, Jeff and Rob

We are so proud of our MathCounts District Competitors this year!

Team Results:

Both teams are going to state - WJHS placed 3rd overall and Highcrest placed 4th overall!

Individual Results: (There were over 150 competitors and we had many in the Top 30!!

4th Place: Sophie - 8th grade

8th Place: Albert - 8th grade)

11th Place: Luke (7th grade)

12th Place: Eric (8th grade)

17th Place: Eva (8th Grade)

28th Place: Zuri (8th grade)

Congratulations students!

We are excited to welcome two new staff members to WJHS! Kate Packard joined us in late December as our new nurse, and Jenica Doma joined WJHS last week as our new secretary. Both of these positions interact frequently with families, and so we want to make sure you know who they are when you see them. Please don't hesitate to reach out to Kate and Jenica as needed!

The month of February is Black History Month. While learning about and honoring the contributions of Black Americans to the history of our country and their impact on our world today is something we do year-round at school, this month is a great time for families also to set aside time to recognize these trailblazers and engage in learning about the contributions of African-Americans...especially in our area. Did you know that the Bronzeville neighborhood in Chicago is considered the birthplace of Black History Month?

A couple of family-friendly opportunities include the Commemorative Day Event at the Chicago History Museum or the Multiple Events, both musical and historical at the Field Museum. In Wilmette, children are offered the opportunity to participate in the Village's annual Black History Month contest or visit the Wilmette Public Library for one of their events.

Our district-wide theme for the month of February is “Our Features Are Important,” making it a great time to celebrate all of the diversity in features around us. Beautifully Me by Nabela Noor, Bodies are Cool by Tyler Feder, The Proudest Color by Sheila Modir and Jeffrey Kashou and Monica Mikai, and The Patch by Justina Chen Headley and Mitch Vane, are great books to spur conversation at home about our unique features and how they make everyone special. Additionally, the Wilmette Public Library, in their ongoing efforts to support these themes in District 39, is offering a Between the Lines: Our Features are Important event this evening, February 7, for families which will be a great opportunity to learn with others about how to embrace our differences.

Engaging in these activities as a family supports your child in developing their social-emotional skills as they learn about themselves, engage in perspective-taking, and celebrate many various traditions and experiences in our communities.

New Trier Course Selections due February 20th!

Course selection materials and course recommendations have been sent to WJHS 8th grade families electronically via email. Please be sure to check your email provider's spam and/ or junk folder(s) in the event New Trier's communication was routed to these locations inadvertently. If you have not received your student's course selection materials, please reach out to Lori Worth or Amy Johns Ikler.

New Trier's PowerSchool helpline is open for questions! You can reach their helpline at 847-784-7548. Families should leave a message and a coordinator will call back within a few days. You can leave a message for more than one department and technical issues with PowerSchool can also be answered via the helpline.

Please remember that course selections are due on February 20th by 3:30 pm!

YEARBOOK ON SALE NOW

The 2024-2025 WJHS Yearbook can be purchased directly through Membership Toolkit on the WJHS PTO website www.wjhspto.com. Yearbooks are $32 and will be distributed during the last week of school. Not sure if you already bought one? Just check your Membership Toolkit account. Purchase NOW and cross this off your list of things to do!

HAVE YOU VOLUNTEERED TO SERVE LUNCH YET?

The last week of February has MANY openings, as there are 3 days with 0 volunteers! Is your child worried that they will actually see you at school? Gasp, don’t tell them! Please consider volunteering to help serve lunch as it’s so appreciated by our lunchroom staff!

Sign up HERE and thank you!

Mondays: 2/10, 2/24

Tuesday: 2/25

Wednesdays: 2/12, 2/19, 2/26

Thursdays: 2/20, 2/27

Friday: 2/28

PTO POSITIONS AVAILABLE FOR NEXT YEAR

7th Grade Parents: the PTO is looking for parents who would like to feel more connected to our school by serving on the PTO Executive or General Board for the next school year. Meet fun, committed people who want to make our children’s experience at WJHS better! Be more ‘in the know’ and feel like you’ve had a direct impact on keystone activities. Your time and talents are highly valued and there’s something for everyone in terms of time commitment! Please email president@wjhspto.com to express interest.

PTO Secretary - attends once a month meetings held at 9am on the first Wednesday of each month, takes notes and writes up minutes

VP Communications - manages website, serves as the Membership Toolkit liaison and coordinates with the Directory Chair for the launch of the new school year, sends out all school announcements

VP Community/Hospitality - manages events and committees for New Families Orientation, 7th Grade Orientation, Monthly Staff Treats, Teacher/Staff Holiday Gift Fund and Teacher Appreciation Week

Community/Hospitality Committees - can you be a Greeter for new families (one night in August)? Can you coordinate getting donuts/coffee for parents during the 7th grade orientation (one morning in August), can you plan special days for teachers involving soup, hot cocoa or hot cider (once a month for 3-4 months)? Can you help plan Teacher Appreciation Week in May?

8th Grade Graduation Party Chair - shadow’s this year’s Chair and plans for June 2026.

Email: office-wjhs@wilmette39.org
Website: http://wjhs.wilmette39.org/
Location: 620 Locust Rd, Wilmette, IL, USA
Phone: 847-512-6600
Instagram: @wjhswolves39
Twitter: @hawkwolf39